Electronics companies race to be greener

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Feature story - 6 December, 2006

Acer and Lenovo are the latest of the top computer makers to commit to stop using the worst toxic chemicals in their products. Along with Motorola these companies are the biggest movers in the latest version of our Guide to Greener Electronics. Disappointingly for Mac fans, Apple has dropped to last place.

Boy recycling electronic waste by hand in India. Companies with good scores in the ranking are part of the solution to the growing e-waste problem.

We first released our 'Guide to Greener Electronics' in
August2006. The guide ranks the 14 top manufacturers of personal
computersand mobile phones according to their policies on toxic
chemicals andrecycling.

Thepublic ranking has been successful in spurring many companies
toimprove, and the
second edition, released today, shows good overall industry
progress and some major individual improvements in rank.

"We are witnessing a global shift towards greener PCs, with Acer
andLenovo, two major producers, committing to eliminate the use
ofthe most hazardous chemicals from their products range," said
IzaKruszewska, Greenpeace International toxics campaigner, "Most
companiesnow score above average points on the ranking guide, with
only fivecompanies failing to score even the average of five
points."

Full Ranking

The ranking is important because the amounts of toxic e-waste
isgrowing every day. It often ends up dumped in the developing
world.Reducing the toxic chemicals in products reduces pollution
from oldproducts and makes recycling safer, easier and cheaper.
Companies withgood recycling schemes help ensure that their
products don't end up inthe e-waste yards of Africa and Asia.

Green Movers

Nokia continues to hold the top spot in the ranking, with
progressivepolicies on both its chemicals policy as well as
disposal ofelectronic waste. However, the company is yet to outline
cleartimelines for phasing out the toxic plastic PVC (vinyl) in all
itsproducts.

Motorola has been the fastest mover in the ranking guide. From
secondworst in the first version of the guide, it has made strong
commitmentsto moved up to fourth place. Lenovo has also made strong
policycommitments, to jump from the bottom to 8th place.
Fujitsu-Siemens andAcer made substantial progress and are now
ranked 3rd and 7threspectively, moving up from their earlier 10th
and 12th positions.

Must do better

Apple has made no improvements in its policies and is now bottom
of theranking. While its arch rivals make progress, the world
leader ininnovation and design is falling further and further
behind.

We'd expect an innovative company which takes pride in
'thinkingdifferent' to be top of the ranking - which was why we
launched the Green
myApple campaignwhich has mobilized Mac fans worldwide to tell
Apple how much they lovetheir products: and how badly they want
them to be environmentallysound.

LGE, Samsug and Sony have lost points for failing to act on
theircommitments to take responsibility for their waste; instead,
thecompanies are supporting regulation in the US that would place
theresponsibility for product recycling on consumers instead of
producers.

In September 2006, HP had one point deducted from its overall
scorewhen analysis of an HP laptop revealed the presence of a type
of toxicchemical that HP claimed it no longer used. HP was quick to
respond andinvestigate. They went public with an explanation on
their website, andthe penalty point was removed.

By turning the public spotlight on top electronics companies
andchallenging them to outrank their competition, the guide has
succeededin motivating many companies to improve their policies on
chemicals andwaste.